Author's Note: Huge apologies in the delay. But alas, the long-awaited epilogue. Enjoy.

Epilogue

The war ended several months after Fire Lord Azula fell. Like the Order of the Lotus, the other allies of the Avatar had joined the fight at the North Pole. With the waterbending strategies Master Paku had formed, the Northern Water Tribe had been managing to keep the fleet at bay during daylight, so that the ships couldn't land and attack full-force. It was only after the others had arrived that the battle left the stalemate. Teo's father had designed some real bombs – not just sludge and stink – that caused substantial damage. Katara, Sokka, Suki, and Toph had been the ones to face Ozai; they were less merciful than Aang had wanted to be.

Upon his demise, the troops surrendered, and the war was finally over.

It had been a year since then.

Now, fragrant cherry blossoms bloomed on the Isle of the Lotus. They always bloomed this time of year. The remote island remained populated by the friends – the family – that they had gained through this journey. Katara and Sokka had decided to stay, though most of the other members of the Southern Water Tribe had returned home. The Kyoshi Warriors had mostly taken their leave as well, though Suki had decided to stay behind with Sokka. Ty Lee had gone with them, deciding to renounce her life prior to betraying Azula. Mai had moved back to the Fire Nation with her family so that she could help her father run the nation as Zuko would have. Haru and his father returned to their village as well, grateful to be going home to a free village, and elders of the Order of the White Lotus had returned to their homelands. Most of the Freedom Fighters had decided to stay behind, not really having another home to go to. Several families of refugees, who had likely fled from Ba Sing Se when the city fell, had made a home on the island, too.

Toph had a home to go, but no desire to return. True, she had been back to see her parents since…things had settled. But they still didn't get it. A breath drew in, heavy with a floral perfume. She was still just a helpless child to them. Despite that she had helped finally bring down the Fire Nation. A sigh escaped into the cool summer breeze as Toph crossed the stone path and headed up the hill. She had come to live with her family – the one that really did understand her, and accept her. In front of her, the stone path ended and the trees opened up into a grassy field. The leaves whispered nearby in the soft breeze, and a distant gull cried near the coast. A petal fluttered across her cheek in the wind, and overgrown bangs tickled her nose. Bare feet stepped into the grass, still cool and fresh with morning dew. A little ways away from her, a large stone rested in the waving blades, and Toph knelt before it. Ashen fingers felt across the words she had engraved into the stone:

祖閣: "玉不琢不成器."

Zuko: "Jade must be chiseled before it can be considered a gem." It was an old proverb, something his uncle might have said once. A heavy breath drew inward, and she smiled softly to herself. Exhaling slowly, she allowed her hand to fall from the stone and tangle into the blades of grass. If only she had done more when she followed him to his boat on that warm afternoon. It didn't seem like a year had passed since those last words had been exchanged, and yet the year had come and gone. Toph felt a trickle down her cheek, and quickly wiped the teardrop away. She stood.

Her cheeks felt warm with the morning sun, the chilly breeze only faintly lingering. For the first time in her life, Toph wished she could see. See the sun rising over the tree line, painting the sky warm pastels. See the gold-lined clouds that glowed with the sunlight. See how eyes glimmered in that light. Eyes closed against the imagined scene, and Toph let the warm beams dance across her face. Nearby, a bird sung from a tree branch, and a cricket let out a soft chirp. The fragrance of sweet cherry blossoms and sea salt swept past, and the leaves rustled quietly. A silence surrounded her, and Toph let her breath escape with the fading breeze.

Breathe in…breathe out…

Author's Note: Okay, I know - not the ending most were hoping for...but I'm a bittersweet ending kind of person. I am considering writing an alternate since I had so many "don't kill Zuko" reviews, but I haven't decided yet. Thanks for the reviews, and especially to my loyal read/reviewers. I hope you've enjoyed the read!